Cam type of bench vise



April 8, 1953 w. MILUS 2,636,409

CAM TYPE OF BENCH VISE Filed April 15, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVEN TOR. WILL [AM MIL d5 ATTQRNEK Patented Apr. 28, i953 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE CAM TYPE OF BENCH VISE William Milus, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 15, 1952, Serial No. 282,417

2 Claims. (01. 81-19) The purpose of my invention is to provide a.

vise in which an object may be clamped quickly by means incorporated in said vise, a powerful gripping action is obtained to secure the object against displacement.

. A further object of my invention is to adapt the vise for a special task of firmly clamping pipes, for which object certain elements of the vise have been suitably modified.

I shall now describe my vise with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my vise;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

, Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; 1

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a modified species of my vise;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of said vise;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional view of the vise on line 1-'! of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a cam used in both forms of my vise and a fragmentary view of an element actuated by said cam;

Fig. 9 is a sectionalview on line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The vise includes a stationary member generally indicated by numeral [0, which member 0 may be best made of cast metal. Adapted to be mounted on a bench or a similar horizontal support, the vise is provided with a base II which may be bolted to said support or secured thereto by a clamp which is not shown.

The upper portion of member ID is formed with a jaw [2, while its midportion is provided with a horizontal slot l3 and a cylindrical opening I4 extending transversely to the length of the slot and intersecting its lower wall, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Slidingly disposed within the slot is a bar I5, preferably of the I type in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 4, the underside of the bar carrying a row of teeth l6 disposed in crosswise relation to said bar. A shoulder ll along the row of teeth on each side thereof serves to support the bar in its sliding movement within the slot 13.

Disposed within the opening 14 is a lockingpin [8, the pin being circular in cross-section but including a portion with two flat faces 19 and 20, the faces meeting at an angle and forming a wedge. The tip 2| of the wedge is adapted to fit between any two adjoining teeth I6 on the underside of bar l5. One end of the locking-pin 1 .1 l8 projects laterally out of the stationary mem-.-

ber I 0 and is equipped with a cross handle 22 passing diametrically through a hole in said.

pin, as best shown in Fig. 1.

A wire spring anchored at one endto the lower portion of member ID, as shown at 24, is coiled about the pin l8, its other end being looped over with the teeth of bar l5, as best shown in Fig. 3.

Mounted upon one end of the bar I5 is a vertical bar 26 which at its upper portion includes two parallel ears or wings 21 for a pivotal support therebetween of a shank 28. The latter carries at its upper end an integrally-formed jaw 29 adapted for co-operation with jaw l2 already mentioned hereinabove. Numeral 30 indicates a bolt upon which the shank is fulcrumed. Mounted upon the lower end of the shank by means of a bolt 3| is a cam including a flat, circular base 32 and a peripheral ridge 33 projecting from the base at right angle thereto, the

ridge forming an annular incline along a path such as is defined by the thread of a screw. This is best shown in Figs. 1 and 8.

A leafspring 34 atached to the body of the bar 26 by means of a screw 35 bears at its other and free end against said shank 28 at a point belowthe jaw 29 but above the fulcrum at 30. Under the tension of said spring the lower end of the shank bears against the top of the ridge, as

shown in Figs. 1 and 8.

It wil be noted that the length of the shank, from its fulcrum at 30 to its lower end is about twice the distance from the fulcrum up. This, I wish to point out, is a very important feature as by reason of the. leverage effected by this structure any object between the jaws of the vise will be held in a grip much more powerful than could be secured by the conventional screwdrives or cams.

A rod 36 projecting radially from the ridge 33 serves as a handle for the operation of the annular cam as a whole. A weight 31 at the end of the rod serves a purpose which will be described hereinbelow.

The species of my vise shown in Fig. 5 is provided with means of gripping pipes. The features adapted for that use do not interfere with the use of the vise for other purposes of which the vise is capable. The stationary member 38 including a base 39 for mounting the vise on a horizontal support is provided with a series of circular holes 40. The holes are graduated in size and open from each side of said member 38 into a slot 4| which accommodates a sliding bar 42. The bar is in all respects made like bar I5 shown in Fig. 1 but has in its web portion 43 a series of holes 44, the individual holes corresponding in size to holes in said stationary member 38.

Associated with a portion 22a. of rod 22 which operates the locking pin 18 is a pivoted L-shaped prop 41. Normally the prop is in the position shown in, dotted lines Ala. Whenturned in a counter-clbckwisedirection to thelpositiorr shown: in solid lines in Fig. 5 itwill, by means of" rod 22} cause the locking pin 18 to be disengaged from.

teeth l5 of bar 42 and will permit said bar to be moved freely back and forth within 'tlie 'slot' '4 li.-,

Numeral indicates a pipe which is held within aligned holes 40 of member 38 and a hole" 44* aligned with said holes ill. N umerali 46 indicates? a jaw projecting from the stationary member 38.

The operation of the vise is quite obvious. Assuming that an object is to be clamped between the jaws: of: the: vise} handle 2 2.: is? pressed-down to disengage the: locking pin I8 from the teeth of engage teeth l8: of the slidingbar I 5 and l'ocksaid. bar in place; Next; in ordt-zrto secure a powerful grip on the object jaw 29 is made: to bear'againstit; said jaw being actuated: by means or the annular carna- The cam: is rotated: about,

its? axis by means of a handle 36, the: inclined ridge ta-of the cam forcing shank- 28; which is fulcrumed at 39, outwardly As: the: shank is much longer. than the distance from the fulcrum to said jaw 29 the leverage effected by: the shankv will result in the -delivery of intense pressure at the' face' ofthe j'aw- 29 in the directionot the -oppositejaw t2. Once the: object has been clamped between' the jaws, as above described, any jar oi th'evise such as may result from worlr' ing on the object Will cause the weightoi the handle 38" to swing downwardly only totighten the wedge of. the ridge 33' against the shank- 2i? and thusit'o' tighten the: grip of the object between said: jaws:

, In case the object-to be held in thevise is; a pipe it is the vise shown in Fig. 5- thatmay be best used for the purpose. The pipe, providedit'is of a; diameter somewhat smaller than one 01: the apertures ll! irithe stationary member- 38- of. the vise; may be: inserted in one: of saidtap'entures;.as slrown in the drawings; andthrough a corresponding hole: 44- in the sliding bar 42; In, order that the bar may move freely within the.

avisef; one side of. openings 4! will represent one jaw; the opposite side of the hole 44 within the sliding bar will represent the equivalent of the opposed jaw.

It must be added that normally, unless this is prevented by the annular cam, jaw 29 is kept in a spaced relation to jaw 46 by means of a leaf spring 34.

It will be understood that some changes may be made inthe structure of-my. visewithoutdeparting; from the inventive principle disclosed herein.

What I, therefore, wish' to claim is as follows:

1. A vise comprising a vertical stationary memher having a jaw at the top, the member being providedi'with a horizontal slot below the level 0t said jaw,.a sliding bar within the slot, the bar Being provided with a row of teeth out therein along: its length a locking pin within said sta- Numb tionary member, the pin being adapted for enea ement with said teeth to prevent longitudinal movement of the bar, manual means for the operatiorr ofthe locking pint upright plate mounted at one end of the bar, the platebeing provided witha pair of" upright flanges disposed parallel" to eachother; a lever pivoted upon apin journalled witl-iin-said flanges, the Iever'terminat' ing at the top with a jaw opposedto' tl'ie first-'- n'anied jaw, a spring keeping the jaws in a: normally spaced relation toeach other, an annular cam n-i'ounted upon the lower end of the upright plate, the cam including a circularrid'ge follow-- ing the thread of a screw andbearihg'againstsaid lower end of the lever; and'a handleprojecting radially fronr the cam by means of which the cam may be rotated;

2. A vise comprising a vertieal stat-ionary mem her having a jaw at the top, the member being provided wlth'a horizontal slo't' below the level of said-jaw; ii -sliding bar within the slot, an upright plate mounted at one end of the bar, the plate being provided with a pair-of flanges disposed parallel toeach other, an uprightl'ever pivoted upon a pin journalled within said flanges; the lever terminating at the top with a jaw opposed to-the"fii-stnamedj'aw; a spring keeping the jaws in a normally spaced relation to each other, the sides of the stationary member being provided with a plurality of holes of graduated sizes and arranged in a horizontal line; the-slidingban being similarly provided with a series of holes of corresponding sizes for" alignment, one by one, with the first-named holes; an annular cam mounted upon the lower end of theuprightplate,

the'ca'minclu'ding a circular ridge following the thread of a screw and bearing against the lower" end or" the lever, and handle means to rotate the cam to cause the jawupon the lever to bear against the opposed jaw and to exert a pull upon" References- Cited in the file'. of this: patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name. Date.

295,354 Cloud l-i n.-- Mar. 18, 1884 349,099 Hosack "W nne Sept. 14, I886 380,178 Brown et al can, Mar..27; 1888i 40%436 Lorey undane. July 23}. 1889 

